Two-color ribbon mechanism



Jan. 14, 1936. c w BURCKY 2,027,515

TWO-COLOR RIBBON MECHANISM Filed Oct. 13, 1954 60 O06 lS-SO l2 SPECIAL 8.00

I I2 N9 16 I. I5

INVENTOR CHARLES MK BUPCKY ATTOR Y Patented Jan. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFEE Two-coma meson MECHANISM Charles W. Burcky, @hicago, Ill, assignor to Toletype Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application October 13, 1934, Serial No. 748,169

9 Claims. (01. 173-25) The present invention relates to electrically from the back of the printing platen towards the controlled printing telegraph apparatus and front of a machine, such as the one illustrated in more particularly to printing telegraph apparatus Fig. l of the patent referred to above.

arranged to record the received information un- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end elevation illustrat- 5 der alternatively diiferent conditions. ing certain portions of the mechanism in sec- 5 The invention has for its salient object the protion and taken approximately on line 22 of vision of mechanism adaptable to printing tele- Fig. l, and graph apparatus whereby the information to be Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail View of a printed recorded will be distinctively allocated and printpage illustrating the appearance of color tabued to be readily distinguishable. lation such as may be obtained by a code con- 10 A feature of the invention contemplates a trolled tabulation device such as the one shown in mechanism that is automatically responsive to a Figs. 1 and 2. variable code of shift operations for alternatively In order to assist in correlating certain elepresenting either of two color areas of a print ribments of the present disclosure with the patent r.) bon in position so that in accordance with the sereferred to above, corresponding elements have 5 leeted Code the information p t d in d ren been designated with reference characters similar colors is allocated to several columns. to the ones used in the patent, new reference In attaining the above object and feature characters being applied to certain mechanisms wherein the information is recorded in columnar only, foreign to the disclosure in said patent. a e the mechanism p ys a shift The printing platen it is mounted on a sub- 20 nt l d a carried y the p a n a sem ly stantially square spindle i5 and is adapted to Which y be p d y Other s v ng d be moved horizontally step by step as the various ferent codes to accommodate various code arprinting and spacing operations are executed. rangemente The Code is D V d d W t Suitable space feeding mechanism as disclosed notches corresponding to the alternative color in the foregoing patent is provided for accomshift sequence in accordance with the predeterplishing this purpose which in so moving the mined color printing selection for the diiferent p1aten horizontally also moves with it appurteeolumhs of printing- The ribbon Shift ppa nant carriage mechanism indicated generally by tus carries with it 'a feeler device which senses the th reference character I i, to which is secured a notches in the Code in accordance With transversely extensive code bar l2, provided at 30 the presentation of wards or notches accordingly t d r edge with notches l3 and lug portions permits the presentment of the colored ribbon is suitably arranged in accordance with the areas in printing POSitiOH- predetermined allotment of vertical column vari- Since in mechanisms of the general type to 0115 colored printing. Which s invention pertains there is provided In accordance with the illustrated adaptation 35 means for horizontally moving or returning e a two-color ribbon I1 is featured, though it may printing platen and its Carriage d Since this be understood how by providing the code bar [2 a ia e i r tu i w u d h w e int rfe with variable depth notches and lug portions is W the ribbon Shifting mechanism, means e and i6, three or more ribbon shift positions may 40 provided whichrespond to the carriage return inb obtained for accommodating printing with 40 itiating signals for momentarily retracting or more th t lors, blocking the effectiveness of said ribbon shift de- A ribbon guide is comprising angularly disvice so as toprevent its interfering with the apposed guide arms l9 and 2| is pivotally carried purtenances of the platen carriage as the latter is by a reciprocable lever 22 to which it is pivotally v d horizontally in ponse to said carriage secured at 23. The guide I8 is received within 45 return signal. suitable clips or other confining elements (not For a more comprehensive understanding of shown) which direct it in vertical reciprocating this invention, reference should be had to United movement. States Patent No. 1,665,594 issued to H. L. Krum Lever 22 to which the guide 18 is secured is at April 10, 1928, wherein the printing telegraph all times urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed apparatus to which the present invention pertains in Fig. 2, about its pivot 24 by a spring 25. As is more fully described and to the accompanying the main operating shaft 59 consummates its sindrawing in which like reference characters desgle revolution cycle in accordance with the reignate similar parts throughout and in which ception of each signal and the printing of a char- Fig. l is a fragmentary rear elevation looking actor or other functional response, it operates 55 through a cam 26 to impart reciprocal motion to one arm 21 of a bell crank lever 28 by reason of its engagement with the follower roller 29 carried by arm 21. Lever 28 is pivotally supported upon an intermediate shaft 56 located parallelly with respect to and above the main operating shaft 59.

As lever 28 is reciprocated, a cam segment 30 carried thereby comes into engagement with the roller 3I of lever 22, imparting to it counterclockwise motion in opposition to spring 25. The normal position of operating shaft 59 is as illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 2, whence it presents the apex portion of cam 25 to the follower roller 29. During its cycle, however, when lever 28 is permitted to rock clockwise and spring 25 moves lever 22 clockwise (Fig. 2), an upstanding portion 32 integrally formed with lever 22 may encounter a lug I6 or a notch I3 of the ribbon shift code bar I2. If a lug I6 is encountered the roller 3| is prevented from responding fully to the urge of spring 25 and the ribbon guide I8 is not permitted to rise sufiiciently to present the lower color area of the ink ribbon in effective printing position. Under such conditions the ribbon guide I8 is held so as to present the upper color area into printing position so that when the type levers strike against the platen, a color corresponding to the upper area is imparted to the paper which engages the surface of the platen I4.

If, however, the platen has advanced horizontally to a position such as that illustrated in Fig. 1 whence the upstanding arm 32 encounters a space I3 in the color code bar I2, lever 22 is permitted to rotate farther than as shown in Fig. 2, raising the ribbon guide I8 to a position in which the lower color area is brought into registration with the printing elements of the type bars as they are brought against the platen surface I4, and during each printing operation, lever 28 under the stimulus of cam 26 retracts lever 22 and with it the ribbon guide I8, and thereafter presents it to a new position in accordance with the color code bar I2. Thus it will be understood that as the printing operations progress horizontally across a page, various colored vertical columns of printing are obtained, as illustrated in Fig. 3, which columns correspond to the arrangement of notches I3 and lugs I6 in the color code bar or templet I2.

The practice has become well established that in order to obtain a carriage return operation referred to above, a so-called all-space signal is employed. Under the conditions of this signal, the several code selecting bars 42 are presented in the extreme left position as viewed in Fig. l. The telegraph signals are received over a. receiving distributor and are comprised of component impulse intervals during each of which one of two electrical conditions may be received. Upon reception, the electrical condition is channelled to an associated one of a set of selector magnets comprised of a pair of windings 15 the cores of which act upon an armature I4. In accordance with the energization or deenergization of the winding "I5, the armature I4 is or is not attracted and thrust leftwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1.

When a marking condition is received, the armature is attracted by the energized condition of the windings "I5, causing its associated pin I2 to be moved leftwardly and rocking a latch lever II counterclockwise against the tendencies of its associated spring 33. When this is done, a controlled lever 68 is permitted to respond to the urge of its spring 69 by the freeing of its projection 34 and in moving counterclockwise, lever 68 thrusts its associated code bar 42 leftwardly. A bail 96 functioning cyclically, serves to withdraw the several levers 68 in unison after the transfer of each signal to the code bars 42. By referring to the patent mentioned above, the sequence and details under which these selecting operations are performed may be comprehensively understood.

In response to an all-space signal condition, the carriage return operation is executed. As explained in the patent referred to above, this function is manifest by a leftward movement (as viewed in Fig. 1) of the platen I4 and its appurtenances when a latching pawl is released and the platen return spring acting through a strap I I2 is permitted to restore the platen carriage. Upon the receipt of a carriage return signal, none of the windings I5 is energized, and consequently the several code bars 42 as well as the levers 68 remain in the condition illustrated in Fig. 1. Under these conditions, the transversely bent lower portion 35 of a link 90 is permitted to drop to its lowermost level, as indicated in Fig. 1,

influenced by a spring 36, and causing to be rotated a lever 31 which is pivoted about shaft 38. An extended arm 39 carried by lever 31 is provided with a pivot stud 4| which passes through an eyelet 43 of a stop bar 44. The influence of spring 38 in rotating lever 31 counterclockwise, causes the stop bar 44 to be presented so that its foremost end 45 blocks the path of an eccentric disc 46 carried by an extended portion of lever 22. With bar 44 in its effective or stop position, lever 22 is prevented from rotating, and accordingly the upstanding portion 32 thereof is withheld from engagement with the color code bar I2.

Thus it will be understood that following the reception of an all-space signal when the platen I4 and its carriage is to be returned to its start position, the upstanding portion 32 of lever 22 is withheld from engagement with the notches and lugs I3 and I6, which would otherwise occur and cause an interference with the movement of the platen carriage.

While this invention has been explained and described with reference to a particular adaptation, it will be understood that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly it is not intended to be limited by the details of the accompanying drawing nor by the language of the foregoing specification, except as indicated by the hereinafter appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraphically controlled printing apparatus, a plurality of type elements, a platen, shift mechanism associated with said platen, a set of notched code bars variously positionable for accordingly controlling the performance of type elements, and a notched bar for controlling the performance of said shift mechanism.

2. In a printing telegraph apparatus, a longitudinally movable printing platen, a shiftable ribbon carrier, a notched templet carried by said platen, a sensing device presentable against said templet for accordingly controlling said ribbon.

shifting device during a printing operation, and means for withholding the sensing device from engagement with said templet during a platen return operation.

3. In a printing telegraph apparatus, a longitudinally movable printing platen, a shiftable ribbon carrier, a notched templet carried by said platen, a sensing device presentable into the path of said templet for accordingly controlling said ribbon shifting device, and a blocking element interposed in the path of said sensing device under the control of a signal which functions to return said printing platen.

4. In a page printing mechanism, a movable platen, means under the control or telegraph signals for returning said platen after the execution of a predetermined number of print operations, a tabulation device, a templet carried by said platen, a sensing mechanism for controlling said tabulation device including a portion presented in a path of said templet, and means responsive to said signal for withdrawing said sensing device from the path of said templet during the return movement of said platen.

5. In a printing telegraph apparatus, a platen, a shiftable ribbon carrier, a notched bar for determining the position 01' said ribbon carrier, means for shifting said ribbon carrier as determined by said bar, a typing mechanism, means for effecting relative movement between said platen and said typing mechanism, and means ef iective during such relative movement in one direction for rendering said shifting means nonresponsive.

6. In a printing telegraph apparatus, a longitudinally movable printing platen, a plurality oi type elements to be brought into engagement with said platen, a notched bar movable with said platen, oscillatable sensing means adapted for engagement with said bar, means for oscillating said sensing means, and an ink ribbon holder supported by said sensing means.

7. In a printing telegraph apparatus, a longitudinally movable printing platen, a ribbon carrier, a plurality of printing elements, a notched templet carried by said platen, and a sensing device presentable against said templet and supporting said ribbon carrier for controlling said ribbon carrier in accordance with said templet.

8. In a printing telegraph apparatus, a longitudinally movable printing platen, a plurality of printing elements, a ribbon carrier, a notched templet movable with said platen, a sensing device oscillatable into and out of cooperative association with said templet and supporting said ribbon carrier, and means for oscillating said sensing means in synchronism with the actuation of each printing element for controlling said ribbon carrier in accordance with said templet.

9. In a printing apparatus, a longitudinally movable printing platen, a plurality of type elements to be brought into printing engagement with said platen, a multi-colored ink ribbon interposed between said printing elements and said platen, a shiftable support for said ink ribbon, a rotatable eccentric for shifting said support, and means comprising a templet associated with said platen for determining the extent of the shifting of said shiitable support in accordance with predetermined positions of said platen for thereby eifecting multi-color printing tabulation.

CHARLES W. BURCKY. 

